No. 206.
Mr. Sargent to Mr. Frelinghuysen.
Berlin, October 15, 1883. (Received October 29.)
Sir: I have the honor to state that I have observed with some interest the news in the German newspapers as to the existence of trichinosis [Page 390] in the Empire since the absolute exclusion of American pork and pork products, and since a sufficiently long time has elapsed to insure accuracy in the conclusion that the stock of American products of that kind is exhausted. From time to time notices of the prevalence of the disease have appeared.
It seems to me now just to conclude that cases reported are caused by .the consumption of German or some other than American pork; and that it is no longer possible to ascribe to the articles furnished by the United States the disagreeable results of the consumption of raw pork.
In the Berliner Tageblatt of October 11 appears a telegram from Ermsleben, near Halberstadt, in Prussian Saxony, in which it is stated that there are now in that town about one hundred and eighty persons who have been seized with trichinosis. It is also stated that the epidemic does not seem to have reached its height, as new cases are reported daily, and that four persons have already died.
It is entirely safe to say that no such epidemic as this is shown to have ever resulted from the consumption of American salted pork, which must be cooked to be eaten.
I have, &c.,